Hank

Hank is a medieval English short form of Hankin, itself a diminutive of Johan (John), derived from the Hebrew Yohanan meaning God is gracious. The name developed independently in English-speaking countries and became a distinctly American nickname, strongly associated with frontier and working-class culture. Notable bearers include baseball legend Hank Aaron and country music icon Hank Williams, cementing its all-American character. Related forms include Hankin, Hans, and the full name Henry, with which Hank is also commonly associated through a separate folk etymology.